Life As A Beginning Reporting Student

Submitted by Katie Noe

Chattanooga State Technical Community College

          I'm going to go ahead and say that when someone gets started in the field of court reporting/captioning, they will have NO idea what they are doing.  I believe that this is the only field of work in the world where this is the case.  Yes, you have a very vague idea (with "Court reporter? Isn't that the person that writes on a little machine?"

 being the most common question that one will receive), but you can't read the notes, you can't write on the machine, and you have no clue what any of the letters mean. Honestly, it really feels like you're learning a whole new language which, aside from the requisite Spanish/German/Latin that you take in high school, will be the only new language you'll ever learn.  It was a humbling experience for me, a person who flew through elementary school--college with little to no trouble.  I know that on the first day of class in Chattanooga, my classmates and I were all in the same boat, which is never how that goes in most colleges.  Usually, three or four people will know more about a particular subject and be able to show that in class.  Not so with stenography. We were all completely lost for the first couple of weeks. 

           We just started our second semester in January 2007.  Our schedules are different from some other court reporting colleges in that we attend every day, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 until 2:30.  It's not easy, but I'm of the opinion that it's going to be better for us in the long run.  At least, that's what I tell myself.  However, we continue to see second and even third-year students drop out, and we wonder if we have what it takes to make it through.  I believe that a student is going to know by the end of the second semester if they have it.  Even at this point, one should have a really good idea of whether this is going to be the field for them or not. 

           For me personally, I know that I can do this.  Confidence is essential to make it through, along with quick fingers and a complete grasp of the concepts that are given.  I don't know if everybody in my class is going to graduate.  This is a very individual line of work and it all depends on the work ethic of the person.  I don't like the fact that we may not all make it, because I have made some very good friends, but I do like the fact that I am very glad to have found a job where I can make money AND love what I do.